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    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest (Inspired by True Events)
    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest (Inspired by True Events)
    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest (Inspired by True Events)
    Ebook442 pages7 hours

    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest (Inspired by True Events)

    By Kelli Estes

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

    "A powerful debut that proves the threads that interweave our lives can withstand time and any tide, and bind our hearts forever."—Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author of Belleweather and The Vanished Days

    A historical novel inspired by true events, Kelli Estes's brilliant and atmospheric debut is a poignant tale of two women determined to do the right thing, highlighting the power of our own stories.

    The smallest items can hold centuries of secrets...

    While exploring her aunt's island estate, Inara Erickson is captivated by an elaborately stitched piece of fabric hidden in the house. The truth behind the silk sleeve dated back to 1886, when Mei Lien, the lone survivor of a cruel purge of the Chinese in Seattle found refuge on Orcas Island and shared her tragic experience by embroidering it.

    As Inara peels back layer upon layer of the centuries of secrets the sleeve holds, her life becomes interwoven with that of Mei Lein. Through the stories Mei Lein tells in silk, Inara uncovers a tragic truth that will shake her family to its core—and force her to make an impossible choice. Should she bring shame to her family and risk everything by telling the truth, or tell no one and dishonor Mei Lien's memory?

    A touching and tender book for fans of Marie Benedict, Susanna Kearsley, and Duncan Jepson, The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is a dual-time period novel that explores how a delicate piece of silk interweaves the past and the present, reminding us that today's actions have far reaching implications.

    Praise for The Girl Who Wrote in Silk:

    "A beautiful, elegiac novel, as finely and delicately woven as the title suggests. Kelli Estes spins a spellbinding tale that illuminates the past in all its brutality and beauty, and the humanity that binds us all together."

    —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of The Beekeeper's Ball

    "A touching and tender story about discovering the past to bring peace to the present."

    —Duncan Jepson, author of All the Flowers in Shanghai

    "Vibrant and tragic, The Girl Who Wrote in Silk explores a horrific, little-known era in our nation's history. Estes sensitively alternates between Mei Lien, a young Chinese-American girl who lived in the late 1800s, and Inara, a modern recent college grad who sets Mei Lien's story free."

    —Margaret Dilloway, author of How to Be an American Housewife and Sisters of Heart and Snow

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSourcebooks
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9781492608349
    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk: A Novel of Chinese Immigration to the Pacific Northwest (Inspired by True Events)
    Author

    Kelli Estes

    Kelli Estes lived in the deserts of eastern Washington state and Arizona before settling in the Seattle area, which she loves so much she plans to forever live near the water. She’s passionate about stories that help us see how the past shaped who we are today, and how we all have more in common than not. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. This is her first novel.

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    Reviews for The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

    4.5/5

    84 ratings24 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Beautifully written. I cried the whole the time. This is a must read for historical fiction fans.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic story. Could not put it down. It kept me hooked from beginning to end.
    • 5/5
      Incredible well written, was an lovely light read that gripped me from the first pages until the end.
    • 5/5
      I really cared about the characters. I could so easily picture the scenes described in the book although it’s not a part of the world that I know
    • 5/5
      I found that Mei Lien’s story to be compelling. I read this book straight through as it was extremely hard for me to put it down! Thank you, Kelli, for writing this gorgeous book!
    • 5/5
      What an amazing example of "historical fiction." This story took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. I felt a full spectrum of emotions while reading this book. The characters were well developed and became 3-D in my mind. Most of the time I struggle with a book that has two time settings, this author made it simple to go from present to past and back and forth. This book is causing me to look into small pieces of American history. I will be suggesting this book to other readers.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I just finished a marvelous novel from Kelli Estes. It is called The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. I just loved this book and did not want it to end. The book starts out in February 1886 in Puget Sound, Washington Territory. Liu Mei Lien (Liu is her surname) works with her father in his shop in what is now Seattle in Washington Territory. The white people in the area are not happy with the Chinese. They do not like them coming in and taking their jobs. Mei Lien dresses like a boy as protection when she is out in the city (a girl could be attacked). One morning just after Mei Lien awakened there are white men outside their homes with weapons. All the Chinese are being escorted out of the city to a ship called the Prince of the Pacific. Mei Lien, her father, Liu Huang Fu, and her grandmother (who is frail) are forced onto the ship (and have to pay for passage). The ship is to take them to San Francisco. Once the ship is underway Mei Lien overhears Duncan Campbell (owner of ship) talking about the Chinese on the ship. Campbell has no intention of allowing the Chinese to stay on his ship. He is going to dump them into the water when they get far enough out. When Mei Lien tells her father what is going to happen, he gives her his money bag and, when they are near the last island before open water, he pushes her off the ship.Inara Erickson has just inherited her Aunt Dahlia’s estate on Orca Island called Rothesay (near Seattle, Washington). Inara loved going their when she was younger before the death of her mother. Inara has just graduated from graduate school (majored in business) and has a job lined up at Starbucks. Inara is a descendant of Duncan Campbell. Her family runs the business Campbell started. It was originally called Campbell Lines but is now called Premier Maritime Group. PMG is run by Charles Erickson (Inara’s father). Charles has high expectations for his daughter. He expects her to sell the estate and return to Seattle. Inara is exploring the house when she discovers a loose step in Aunt Dahlia’s house (she lived in a little house behind Rothesay). There is a cloth wrapped bundle in the step. When Inara unwraps it she finds a beautifully embroidered blue silk sleeve. It has lovely silk embroidery picturing scenes. Inara would like to discover more about the sleeve. She feels that it is important. Inara calls Dr. Daniel Chin who teaches China studies. This sleeve leads Inara and Daniel on a journey into the past. We get to find out what happened to Liu Mei Lien after she was shoved into the water near Orcas Island. It is amazing how the past can affect the present. This is a moving book that will captivate you from the very first page. I give The Girl Who Wrote in Silk 5 out of 5 stars. This is one of the best books I have read this year. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is superbly composed. It is one of those books that you will continue to think about for days after you have finished reading it. This is Kelli Estes first novel and I impatiently await her next book.I received a complimentary copy of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Did Mei Lien stand on the edge of the boat's railing because she knew she had to or because she was forced to be there? Did this act begin or end Mei Lien’s life? Did this act begin or end Inara’s life?Mei Lien lived 100 years ago. Inara lives in the present. Their lives are unknowingly connected until Inara finds a family story on a hidden embroidered sleeve in a house that belonged to Inara's ancestors and where Mei Lien and her family had lived...the connection and the secrets begin. The embroidered sleeve immediately catches Inara's attention and her curiosity. When she takes the sleeve to a Chinese professor at the local university, the sleeve and Inara immediately catch the professor's attention.THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK is beautifully written and beautifully told by Ms. Estes. The characters come alive, and the storyline is quite intriguing.THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK has secrets about a family home, a family connection, and an embroidered shirt sleeve that tells a story Inara just HAS to unravel. Just what were all of these secrets?The story and the unraveling lead to surprises for the characters and to a marvelous book. Ms Estes weaved a beautiful, gripping, but sad tale that spanned from the 1800's to present day.THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK was difficult to put down simply because you will want to find out about the embroidered sleeve as well as to find out how Inara and Daniel Chin unravel the mystery even though we already know the answer as Ms. Estes skillfully goes back and forth revealing the past and the present.THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK is an appealing, alluring read with charming, unforgettable characters. You will love Mei Lien and admire her for her courage. You will also love her husband, Joseph, but despise Duncan Campbell.The book is as captivating as the book's title and cover, and THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK becomes even more intriguing each time you turn the page and clues are revealed.I thoroughly enjoyed THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK, but have some tissues ready.I hope you have the pleasure of reading this marvelous book. A spectacular debut novel. 5/5This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      The plot was good, but the writing was "meh" (no style) and the characters one-dimensional
    • 4/5
      The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, Kelli Estes, narrator Emily Woo Zeller This novel begins with two seemingly unconnected stories. One takes place in the past, beginning near the end of the 19th century and moving forward for about a decade into the 20th; the other takes place in the present time, presumably the 21st century and proceeds forward over only a few months. The story alternates between the two main characters. The first important character is Mei Lien (Lui Mei Lien). She is 17, lives in Seattle with her father and grandmother, dresses as a boy because the environment in which she lives is less safe for young Asian females, and is quite content with her life. She helps her father in his shop in the mornings, and in the afternoons she and her grandmother make beautiful embroidered purses to earn extra money. They are very close. Although they barely have enough to get by, they seem quite happy. They honor their elders and the memory of their ancestors while following the customs of their heritage, keeping its folklore alive. Mei Lien’s grandmother teaches her the skills she will need to be a good wife and mother. The second, in the present day, is Inara Erickson. She is 24, with a newly acquired Master’s degree and a promising future. She is embarking on a career with Starbucks. Brought up in the land of opportunity, she had everything she ever wanted at her fingertips. Although she had not been in touch with her aunt Dahlia, she had inherited their family home from her and is on the way to Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands, to check it out and ready it for sale to pay off her student loans. It had once been the home of her great, great, grandfather, Duncan Campbell who was credited with bringing the maritime industry to Seattle, Washington. Her father owns the Premier Maritime Group, and even though there are many who would gladly change places with her, she is not sure she likes the direction her life is taking.With decidedly different opportunities, both young women have different expectations and feelings of gratitude. Both are motherless. Mei Lien’s mother died in childbirth; Inara’s died in a car accident after an argument with her, which may or may not have caused her to lose control of the car. While both might be considered, in a sense, the cause of their mother’s death, only one is guilt-ridden. After the accident, Inara had not returned to Orcas Island, where she once lived, but instead moved to Seattle with her father. Both Inara and Mei Lien had devoted fathers who exercised great influence and control over them, but there, their commonality ends. Fortune smiles on one and misfortune on the other. Their different paths, however, will someday converge when they discover their common ancestry. This revelation will create confusion and anger, confession and apology, ignominy and atonement. It may also feel very contrived. Still it works for the story.In 1896, jobs were scarce and angry mobs, in need of work, roamed the streets of Seattle. They forced the Chinese in the community to leave their homes taking only what they could carry. They forced them to board a ship which was supposed to take them back to China, a place some had never even been, having been born in America. While looking for medical help for her father who had been beaten before boarding the ship, Mei Lien overheard a conversation between the captain and Duncan Campbell, the owner of the ship. He planned to “dump” the Chinese passengers before they reached shore, in a place where they would not risk being washed up and found, so that his ship would not get an “unclean” reputation and be useless in the future. When she related this to her father, he took matters into his own hands, and to save her life her life, he pushed her overboard before they got too far from land, hoping she could swim to safety. Horrified and afraid, she tried to succumb to the pull of the water, but she was rescued by Joseph McElroy, Duncan Campbell’s neighbor, the same Campbell that was responsible for the death of her family and scores of others. The direction of her life changes and as her story begins in earnest, the small triumphs and large travails she experiences never daunt her completely. She simply keeps going forward without complaint.In the present day, we meet Inara as she is traveling with her sister to her former home on Orcas Island. Her aunt Dahlia had lived there with her partner Nancy, but now that both were deceased, as the current owner, she intended to clean it out and put it up for sale to pay off her school debts. She was surprised by its rundown condition. When Inara discovers a hidden, beautifully embroidered sleeve under a rotted step, she changes the direction of her life. She makes an impetuous decision to turn the estate into a boutique hotel and gourmet restaurant. She then reaches out to Daniel Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at her former alma mater, to assist her in finding out about its history and the meaning of its embroidered message. At this same time, her family was planning the coming dedication of the Duncan Campbell Memorial Park to honor her ancestor and its direction will also change.As both stories move forward, the reader learns the part of the book that is based on a true story. It is an interesting, but sad, tale about the abuses Chinese residents of America faced in the 1800’s. In the last half of the 19th century, according to the author, job shortages made them easy prey and they were rounded up and chased out of communities forcefully. Although this story about Mei Lien is not true, it is based on real incidents that took place in several cities; but this book’s tragedy never did occur. There was a general fear, by some, that the Chinese were being smuggled into the country, and they were taking away needed jobs by working for lower wages. In some cases, this was true, as “paper sons” entered the country, but it was no excuse for the random acts of brutality and cruelty that were committed. (The politics of the author are revealed here as the reader will surely be reminded of the illegal immigration problems of our present time.) This story tries to illustrate both sides of the history, but it more favorably represents the immigrant’s point of view, describing the mistreatment which gets rather ugly. It is difficult not to support Mei Lien’s character. She never gives up doing the right thing, although her cup seems half empty. Her efforts to survive will be applauded and her sorrow will be shared. This may not be true of the trials and tribulations of Inara, since she cries often with a cup half full and often seems to be an unsympathetic, whiny, even spoiled individual without sufficient reason to be so. However, she too strides forward after struggling with her conflicted emotions.As the mystery of the embroidered sleeve is solved, the past is revealed as are the many similarities shared by the characters. They both lost their mothers too soon, and later, also lost their fathers. They were both headstrong and independent once they identified their desires and goals. Both had devoted fathers who were determined to do what was best for the daughters, but their ideas were often not in sync with what their daughters wanted. Both found it necessary to keep secrets, secrets which when revealed cleared up many misconceptions, but also brought humiliation and remorse. Sometimes the tale felt unnaturally manufactured. Things just seemed to fall into place too conveniently, i.e. when Vera, Daniel’s grandmother, recognizes the picture of Kenneth Chin (Yan-Tao McElroy), the child of Mei Lien and Joseph. Also, the siblings joyful reunion at the family home, followed by the suggestion of dinner and a movie seemed an odd suggestion on the day their father died. Perhaps it was the narrator of the audio who made it seem that way with her interpretation and expression, but I felt that overall, interactions wih Inara seemed to have less credibility than Mei Lien’s scenes. Although not as highly educated and very poor, she seemed to have a lot more common sense and ethics than Inara. Mei Lien respected the truth but Inara seemed to disregard it and seemed flighty. She often made inept excuses for her lies. Mei Lien’s story seemed ot have more substance, but that was perhaps because Mei Lien’s story had its foundation in history and Inara’s was pure fiction. At times, I felt the narrator tended to make Mei Lien sound older and worldlier than Inara. Inara’s voice was thin and too girlish sometimes, Mei Lien’s expression showed more courage and fortitude. Inara seemed to be immature while Mei Lien was old beyond her years and had a family and responsibility at age 24 while Inara, at 24, was still not fully formed. Overall the Chinese were portrayed in a more positive way. They were more honorable than their counterparts, the Caucasian Americans. Although they were on different paths, the ultimate discovery of their shared ancestry will create confession and apology, ignominy and atonement for all of the characters.
    • 4/5
      Puget Sound is the setting of this novel and one of my favorite places. The story goes back and forth from the late 1800s to today. The historical parts of the book were more captivating. There's a lot going on with mystery, action, history, romance, and racism. Perfect for those wanting a quick read with just enough depth to keep it interesting.
    • 4/5
      Inara Erickson has inherited some property from her aunt Dahlia. Dahlia wanted the estate to be turned into a B&B, but Inara has a job offer to join the corporate world. Inara has also not been back to the estate since her mother died several years back. Inara's dad wants Inara to sell the property and start work. Inara and her sister visit the estate, where they discover a hidden embroidered silk sleeve under the stairs. Intrigued by the embroidery, Inara writes to Daniel Chin, a professor who is an expert on Chinese artifacts.
      The other part of the story traces Mei Lin and her family. Mei Lin, her father, and her grandmother are rounded up in Seattle and put on a ship to China. However, while on the ship, Mei Lin overhears that the ship owner doesn't plan to take the Chinese passengers to China. Therein begins a sad story for Mei Lin and her family. The silk sleeve is a glimpse into Mei Lin's life.
      The sleeve joins the history of two families and exposes secrets. The novel also told me about a part of US history involving the Chinese in the late 1800s that I didn't know. I enjoyed the book and I was upset to hear of this dark part in our country's past.
    • 3/5
      Inara has inherited her aunt's rundown island estate. When she trips on the stairs, she finds a secret compartment which holds an embroidered sleeve ripped from an oriental garment. Inara enlists the help of a local college professor, and together they try and unravel the sleeve's history. Alternating with Inara's story, is the story of Mei Lein, a Chinese girl driven from her home.I found Mei Lein's story extremely fascinating. I found Inara to be a bit of a spoiled brat, and found it hard to like and sympathize with her. I probably wouldn't re-read this book, but I would read more from this author.
    • 3/5
      The author's story surrounding Mei Lein was much more endearing than present-day Inara. She came off as spoiled. Racial tensions have always been a part of the US' story, it changes color, but it has always been there.
    • 4/5
      This novel, like so many nowadays, is really two stories and vacillates from the present day story to one that takes place in the 1880s. The author does an excellent job of developing these story threads and then weaving together. Both sets of characters are interesting, but I think the storyline set in the past is the more compelling one. Though a bit contrived at times, the novel is an entertaining and informative read. Sad at times, it flows on to a satisfying conclusion, even though some questions remain unanswered.
    • 3/5
      Historical fiction located on Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest, based on the Exclusion Act of 1892. Racism and fear make it difficult for Chinese who have lived all of their life in the country to make a living. The story jumps between current day Inara Erikson, who finds an embroidered sleeve of a Chinese garment hidden in a home she has inherited, and the story Mei Lien, whose family is torn apart when the Exclusion Act is enacted. Mei Lien's story is compelling. Inara's is less so. There's a good story line to the book, but the writing is a bit more like a "bodice ripper" than what is usually found in historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this story. The setting is Orca's island. Historical fiction based on the Exclusion Act of 1882 and the racism against Chinese Americans. Beautifully written. Really enjoyed the characters and the beautiful surroundings. Held my interest and I became invested in the outcome. Love when I read a story that captivates me enough to spark interest in a subject I have little knowledge about.
    • 2/5
      Estes, Kelli. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. 10 CDs. unabridged. 12.5 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2015. ISBN 9781504606042. $34.95. Estes debut novel will enthrall fans of Asian American History. The story alternates between the turn of the nineteenth century and present day, where Inara finds a beautifully embroidered sleeve hidden in the staircase at her newly inherited island estate. Intrigued, she asks a professor of Asian history to help her find out more and together they discover a centuries worth of secrets, horror, and love stitched onto the delicate sleeve. As they are unraveling the mystery behind the sleeve, alternating chapters reveal the sorrowful life of Mei Lein, a young Chinese girl who left behind her story stitched on silk. Loosely based on historical fact, this eye opening and beautifully written novel will captivate readers and leave them wanting more. Beautifully narrated by Emily Woo Zeller who helps bring the story alive with her delicate, yet masterful prose. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. P.L., Franklin, IN
    • 4/5
      Really great! I liked having more information during some of the characters and definitely thought the back and forth between time periods worked well in this novel. Yes it was a bit predictable, but it did have a few surprises thrown in to keep you guessing. Well done!
    • 3/5
      Inara Erickson has discovered a sleeve of intricate embroidery under a stair in the estate she has inherited from an eccentric aunt. She is determined to find out the story behind the sleeve and begins to unravel the story of Mei Lein, a Chinese imigrant and the life she lived.
    • 5/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this story; read it in just over a day. Another tale that tells two stories, one in the past and the other current. I had not heard of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and didn't know much about the ethnic cleansing that occurred and was not included in my history classes. The layers in the story come from the story itself, not from the depth of the writing. Really only the two main characters are explored in any detail, but that's alright.
    • 3/5
      rather a bubble gum book. yes, certain things were deep and historical interesting, but the "modern" part of the story was just too smooth and predictable.
    • 5/5
      An amazing first novel by a new author. The mystery of a silk embroidery from the past is seamlessly woven into the present life of the woman who found it. Beautiful writing has left vivid images in my mind of the past and present day San Juan Islands. This is an author I am anxious to follow.
    • 4/5
      Definitely a lesson in early northwestern territory and the bigotry towards the Chinese immigrants. I enjoyed the back story more than the present story. The present story was pretty predictable but I do give credit that the story blended well. Very horrific and sad to believe that these events occurred and are part of our history. I also will always look at the silk embroideries a lot closer in the future to see if I can tell if a story is unfolding in the artwork. A definite recommended read.

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    The Girl Who Wrote in Silk - Kelli Estes

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